Placements Officer – N3, Finchley, Greater London Permanent

Cityworx is recruiting on behalf of a care business who provides accomodation and support services for young people aged 16 and above.
The Placements Officer manages the referral and admission process, negotiates fees, and coordinates with authorities to ensure smooth placements.
Responsibilites include:
* Managing the referral process from enquiry through to admission of the resident in a timely and effective manner, through close liaison with funding authorities, external placements and the in-house services/operations managers/directors.
* Planning and monitoring the day-to-day receipt and response to referral enquiries and placement-related queries.
* Taking primary responsibility for the co-ordination and management of placements, both internally and with external agencies.
* Negotiating with all placing authorities to ensure that the company receives the most competitive rates – once agreed by SMT.
* Proactively seek to increase fees where and when able.
* Ensuring an Individual Placement Agreement (IPA) for each young person is in place and current.
* Develop effective working relationships with local authority placement officers, commissioners, social workers, and social work teams.
* Managing and prioritising both emergency and planned placements.
* Ensuring risk assessment information accompanies all referrals made, and that all relevant information is shared with appropriate members of the team.
* Managing and maintaining a placement data collection system.
* Liaising with Registered Managers and Responsible Individuals regarding potential placements.
* Ensuring events relating to planned admissions are well communicated to all relevant personnel.
* Developing effective marketing strategies which should include visiting local authority placements teams, sending marketing emails, and advertising vacancies.
* Undertaking other duties and responsibilities as may be reasonably required.
Requirements:
* Previous experience in a placement role within a social care setting.
* Previous experience in referral management.
* Administrative experience with a good knowledge and experience in using Microsoft Word,
* Excel, and Outlook Office, as well as a good telephone manner.
* Excellent verbal, written, and numeracy skills.
* Excellent organisational skills including the ability to manage time and prioritise effectively.
* Ability to work independently and use initiative within specified guidelines or processes.
* Well-developed interpersonal skills, and the ability to deal with colleagues and placing uthorities at all levels.
* Ability to work appropriately with confidential and sensitive information.
* Knowledge of Ofsted/CQC desirable.
* Be suitable to work with children and young people.
If this is of any interest, please get in contact